For fellow F-450 owners - Page 2 - Diesel Forum

Ninebell · 10-31-2009, 07:56 AM

I'll have my 2008 F-450 for years to come.I drive it and it feels like a truck and pulls my trailer like a dream.It's a job 1 bought in 2007.Still all stock except for the Edge EVO.love my truck.

5Rvers · 10-31-2009, 08:19 AM

Yep, I'll keep my F450 for years to come also.

Lou

BIGBEN2004 · 10-31-2009, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ninebell

I'll have my 2008 F-450 for years to come.I drive it and it feels like a truck and pulls my trailer like a dream.It's a job 1 bought in 2007.Still all stock except for the Edge EVO.love my truck.

It looks like you have gone through allot of trucks in the past couple of years. Why would you suddenly keep this one for a longer time period? What was the reason for trading so often with the other trucks?

longhaultransport · 10-31-2009, 11:43 PM

You can have my Spartan tuned, stuff that fell off, 4:30 geared, 130 gallon fuel capacity 08 F-450 Lariat when you pry my cold dead fingers from around the leather wrapped steering wheel.

We just completed an 8 month - 40 thousand mile cross country trip pulling a 40ft 5th wheel that weighs 15000+ pulling the biggest mountains this country has to offer and this truck never missed a beat.

The only complaint so far is the outside edges of the front tires have worn off prematurely.

I don't think you can buy a better tow vehicle..

Stalwart · 11-01-2009, 12:58 PM

I'm with a few of you, I tow at and beyond the 24,000 lb rating. When I tow some of my armored military vehicles, the trailer weight exceeds 26,000 lb. If they neuter the 2011+ truck with lighter axles, I'm not buying. Especially if I loose the wide track front axle, the turning radius of my '08 450 is fantastic, my wife and I like it better than her 2wd F150 short box crew cab. My plan is to get a new DPF when the emissions warranty is nearing it's end date, putting it on the shelf and getting a DPF delete pipe and tune. I'll put that stuff back on only for emissions checks every two years.

In the future I guess I might have to look at the F550 or F650 trucks . . .

marspec · 11-01-2009, 11:13 PM

The loss of the wide axle and the probable increase in turning radius gives me a problem. I have enough problems now getting into and out of my driveway w/fiver.

bounty hunter · 12-03-2009, 08:08 PM

basically everything that made me buy the 450 over the 350 is gone, it got a little uglier,first year for the new motor and new tranny. This is why I ordered a 2010 and did not wait for the 2011's.

JESSE 1 · 12-03-2009, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marspec

The loss of the wide axle and the probable increase in turning radius gives me a problem. I have enough problems now getting into and out of my driveway w/fiver.

The '11 F-450 will continue to have the wide track front axle. It's going to basically be an F-350 Tow Boss. The wide axle won't be offered on the F-350. I'm continually amazed at how tight the turning radius is with my F-450.

guardrail22 · 12-05-2009, 04:32 PM

longhaultransport

check your front end allignment and then have the tires turned around. But for god sakes make sure the dealer has a tire machine and a mechanic with the sense to protect the aluminum wheels.

guardrail22 · 12-05-2009, 04:37 PM

these changes to the F450 pickup are obsurd. Its not an F450 without the big brakes, the 110 and the big tires. Its a 350.

Of course Ford was responding to the complaints about mileage. They say so on one of the videos. The mileage problem has nothing to do with the big wheels and the 110. Its entirely due to regen technology and aerodynamics.

SFC1984 · 12-05-2009, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guardrail22

these changes to the F450 pickup are obsurd. Its not an F450 without the big brakes, the 110 and the big tires. Its a 350.

Of course Ford was responding to the complaints about mileage. They say so on one of the videos. The mileage problem has nothing to do with the big wheels and the 110. Its entirely due to regen technology and aerodynamics.

Then how come a 350 with the same aerodynamics and DPF can get better mileage than a 450? The difference is the gearing, axles, brakes, wheels and tires, springs, etc. I heard those 19.5 tires take 100lbs of air. You know how much more weight and energy that rolling mass produces? There's your big culprit in mileage difference, not the regenerations and aerodynamics. If people are buying 450s for the mileage, then they have problems. And Ford's no better for listening to idiots that want to go faster in them while towing 20k lbs. So basically now you are buying a badge and nothing more. It's still a capable truck, but it won't be what 450 owners such as yourself really need.

guardrail22 · 12-06-2009, 11:30 AM

On flat straight road at 50mph with no wind, I get 14-15mpg
Same road at 60mph I get 13-14
Same road at 70mph I get 11-12

Thats Aerodynamics - aero HP is proportional to speed cubed

At thos same speeds if I reset the MPG when it goes into regen, the mpg goes down by 2mph. You get no power out of fuel injected into the cylinders when the exhaust vales are open.

Sure the truck is heavier but for a 14500 gvwr and 33000 gcwr it has to be. And the 430 rear end with the bigger wheels isn't that much of a penalty given what it can do.

SFC1984 · 12-06-2009, 03:18 PM

But my question is how can a 350 dually with the same aerodynamics get better mileage than a 450 dually? And how long is this straight road your travelling to get these mumbers? I've found that it takes a good 20-30 miles of smooth driving (no stop and go) for the computer to even out. If your in the boost constantly then your mpg will drop. With 3.73 gears and no dually fenders, I usually get an average of 14.5-15 in town driving. On the highway with smooth driving that bumps up to around 17. Never lost any mileage during a regen. The worst I saw was a dip of .2mpg. It's all about not driving like a maniac. If your constantly on the skinny pedal and the boost, mpg is gonna drop.

Now back to the subject of the ugly rear fenders on the new SD, there's your better aerodynamics. Form or function, what's it gonna be? People can't have their cake and eat it too anymore. People want better mpg's during these times, and like you said, aerodynamics play a huge part. Smaller, more shapely fenders will achieve that. I read about a press release where a Ford engineer stated that their test mule was getting an average of 17-20 mpg. Wish I could find the actual statement on that, I read that tidbit from a guy on PSN who was at the press release.

crazybob7596 · 12-06-2009, 08:25 PM

I am in the same boat.I was going to order a 2011.I just picked up my 2010 F450 after looking at pictures of the 2011..There is no way I would drive one of those 2011. I will keep my 2010 KR until ford comes around and makes a real F450 again..

Bob

NEVERSWEAT7 · 12-06-2009, 10:27 PM

I too thought the wide axle was gone for the 2011.. Engine power ratings are all over the plce. have to wait until the real McCoy comes out. doesn't change much in my mind. Don't see anything spectacular coming out of this right now even if the power numbers rating are better than the 2010. I now have 610 miles and my one and only regen.. so far ...was before I left the dealership during long idle time when I bought it. Run Diesel treat supplement, that is all.

City driving averaging 9.6 MPG normal driving, I do not hot rod. I came over a 6% grade with cruise set and got a little over 11 MPG driving 63 MPH 160 miles. I can't wait to get this broke in.. not saying it will get better but I would not think it will get worse. It rides so nice. So quiet, radio wasn't loud and still could not hear the engine.